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Improve public health and host a ‘Pressure Station during Know Your Numbers! Week 2016
17/06/2016

Improve public health and host a ‘Pressure Station during Know Your Numbers! Week 2016 to help people know and manage their blood pressure

High blood pressure is the single
biggest risk factor for stroke

Know Your Numbers! Week 2016 is being
held 12-18 September

The latest
Health Survey for England found that almost one third of the population has high
blood pressure: 32% of men and 27% of women.[1] Yet despite this many people have high blood
pressure that is not controlled putting them at a greater risk of strokes and
heart attacks. Know Your Numbers! Week is the award winning flagship campaign
from Blood Pressure UK and is the UK’s largest blood pressure testing and
awareness event and you can be part of it. Know Your Numbers! Week encourages
people to have their blood pressure measured so they can take the steps needed to
maintain a healthy blood pressure and reduce their risk of debilitating strokes
and heart attacks. The cost of high
blood pressure to society and the NHS is high.
A report by Public Health England has found that diseases caused by high
blood pressure are estimated to cost the NHS over £2 billion every year.[2]

We are
calling on all health care professionals and organisations that are committed to improving public health to host
a ‘Pressure Station’ during Know Your Numbers! Week 2016, and encourage people
to have their blood pressure measured.

Commenting,
Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman of Blood Pressure UK says: ‘Having your blood pressure checked is one of
the biggest steps that people can take to reduce their risk of strokes and
heart attacks. By signing up to host
Pressure Stations, organisations will be raising awareness of high blood
pressure and helping people to know their blood pressure, and if it is too high
people can take steps to manage it and reduce their risk of stroke.”

High blood
pressure is known as the silent killer, as there are no symptoms, it is
therefore important that people have their blood pressure checked and if it is
high, speak to their healthcare professional and then make the necessary
lifestyle changes to help them manage it.

Employers
have an important role to play in ensuring the wellbeing of their employees. A recent
study found that workplace health promotion initiatives can help improve blood
pressure levels among employees.[3] Know Your Numbers! Week 2015 found that one
in three UK adults didn’t know their blood pressure and 38% of people with high
blood pressure had not had a blood pressure check in the previous year.[4] This demonstrates the importance of
campaigns like Know Your Numbers! in identifying people with undiagnosed high
blood pressure and that carrying out blood pressure checks in diverse and more convenient
locations can reach more people.

Dave
Barnard, Occupational Health Technician at Bradgate Bakery who participated in
Know Your Numbers! 2015 says: “I was surprised at the number of people that
wanted to be tested. Because of this
event, we identified employees with raised blood pressure, who would not
otherwise have been tested.”

To sign up
to participate in Know Your Numbers!, please visit http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/AboutKYN/KYN2016

To find out
the benefits of taking part in Know Your Numbers! Week, please visit http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/Getinvolved/Benefits

For more
information, please contact:

Tola
Awogbamiye; Mob: 07967 212 839; email: PR@bloodpressureuk.org

About Blood Pressure UK

Blood
Pressure UK is the UK’s leading blood pressure charity working to lower the
nation’s blood pressure to prevent disability and death from stroke and heart
disease. The charity provides information and support for people with high
blood pressure and raises awareness to prevent the condition. For more
information visit the charity’s website at www.bloodpressureuk.org. If you have
a question about your blood pressure, call 020 7882 6255 or visit: http://www.bloodpressureuk.org. Blood
Pressure UK is the operating name of the Blood Pressure Association, charity
reg. 1058944.

Facts about blood pressure from Blood
Pressure UK:

·
One in three adults in the UK – 16 million – has
high blood pressure. It is estimated that nearly a half (8 million) don’t know
they have the condition.

·
High blood pressure has no obvious signs or
symptoms. The only way to find out if you have the condition is to have a blood
pressure check.

·
Untreated high blood pressure is the major risk
factor for stroke and heart attacks. It is also a risk factor for heart and
kidney disease and vascular dementia.

·
A healthy blood pressure is a level of
120/80mmHg or less. If readings are consistently at or above 140/90mmHg, high
blood pressure is diagnosed, and action should be taken to lower it.

·
If your blood pressure is raised, you can lower
it by leading a healthier lifestyle, and, if necessary, by taking medication as
directed by your doctor.